Over 60,000 Run from Sudanese City Following Takeover by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Says

Refugees escaping conflict in Sudan
Numerous are trying to reach the town of Tawila but experience harassment, extortion and abuse from militiamen during their journey

According to the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 people have left the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.

There have been mass executions and human rights violations as paramilitary forces stormed the city following an year-and-a-half blockade characterized by famine and intense shelling.

The movement of those running from the fighting towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, per UNHCR representative.

They were narrating horrendous stories of abuses, such as sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was struggling to secure enough accommodation and food for them.

Every child was affected by undernourishment, she noted.

It is estimated that in excess of 150,000 residents are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has denied extensive allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a trend of the Arab paramilitaries targeting non-Arab communities.

Yet the RSF has detained one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of summary executions.

The force distributed recordings depicting the fighter's apprehension subsequent to verification that he was involved in the execution of multiple civilians near el-Fasher.

Social media platform has acknowledged that it has removed the channel associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the account in his name.

Sudan was entered a domestic fighting in April 2023 following a intense struggle for power erupted between its army and the RSF.

The conflict has caused a food crisis and claims of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.

In excess of 150,000 people have been killed in the war throughout the country, and approximately 12 million have left their homes in what the UN has called the biggest global humanitarian disaster.

The takeover of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in command of western Sudan and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been collaborators - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an foreign-endorsed plan to advance to civilian leadership.

Gregory Ward
Gregory Ward

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